National Shariah Council, the highest body of the Islamic scholars in the country, organised a press conference in the National Press Club in Dhaka on September 23, 2004. The council called for unity to resist terrorism and ensure safety of the citizens. It rebuffed the propaganda, which was portraying madrasas and religious institutions as the safe heaven of fundamentalism and terrorism. The top Islamic scholars of the country claimed that no Islamic institution, organisation or personality could have direct or indirect linkage with heinous activities like terrorism. They said that they have called for restrain and requested to protect the religious minorities during the worst communal riots in the neighbouring country. They mentioned that Muslims of the country are living in absolute peace and cooperation with people of other religions and are not engaged in spreading hatred.

Mosque Maulana Obaidul Haque, Chairman of National Shariah Council and Khatib of Baitul Mukarram, Maulana Abul Kalam Muhammad Yousuf, Maulana Abdus Subhan MP, Advocate Maulana Nazrul Islam, Maulana Kamal Uddin Jafri, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Maulana Zainul Abedin and Maulana Harunur Rashid Khan attended to press conference. Mufti Sayed Ahmed read out the written statement on behalf of the chairman.

The Shariah Council in its written statement said that an unstable condition was prevailing in all parts of the world. Bangladesh too is experiencing political uncertainly, violence and deterioration of law and order to some extent. The opined that Islam was the only way out from this unstable, violent and unsafe condition. The way Islam upheld the human rights is unparallel. They opined that Islam never allowed terrorism; rather it is very effective in eradicating terrorism.

The Shariah Council clearly outlined its stand on the Kadiani issue. They said that those who did not believe the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the last prophet were not Muslims. They wanted the government to declare then Non-Muslim and let them live in peace with all rights of a citizen of the country as citizens of other religion. They strongly condemned any move to occupy their places.

They said that those who are spreading the propaganda that Bangladesh did not have communal harmony and the mosques and madrasas have become safe heaven for the fundamentalists were lying. They called upon all to forget political rivalry and jealousy in this critical situation, and work unitedly to ensure the safety of the countrymen and protection of religious values of all citizens of the country.

Maulan Obaidul Haque answered questions of the journalists in the conference.